Links to Manuals and Help Pages

MERLIN codes http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/TechSvc/catalog/mer.htm

IATS Outlook Instructions http://iatservices.missouri.edu/e-mail/support/etc.

Web Page Editing on the new Gateway

*How to add the template to your web pages (a camtasia file) http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/engr/template/template.html

*Web Standards http://mulengineering.missouri.edu/webstandards.doc

*Markup Guide for the Mizzou Graduate School http://gradschool.missouri.edu/markup-guide.htm

*Usability Guidelines http://mulengineering.missouri.edu/checklistwebpage.xls

*Subject Guides Categories of Information (University of Minnesota Libraries)

Technology Tips

List your name and the new technology thing you've just learned to use in a way that is relevant to your job and might help others. If it's convenient, include a link to the relevant part of the relevant manual/help screen. If not, just include your name so others can call you and ask, "ok, HOW do I do that?"

How do I invite people to events while avoiding RSVP's?

1. In Outlook, go to the Calendar section, and make a "new appointment" as you would when adding a new event to your personal Outlook calendar.

2. Set the correct date and time. Give the appointment a clear title everyone can understand. Include the location.

3. In the big field at the bottom add whatever introductory/explanatory text you want to add.

4. If you want to add attachments, use the paper clip icon at the top to do that, exactly as you would when sending an email.

5. Click Invite Attendees at the top.

6. Go to the Actions menu and UN-CHECK the menu item marked "Request Responses." This is how you avoid getting all those RSVP's!

7. Fill in the "To" line the way you would any other email. Distribution lists will work.

8. Hit Send.

Note: if you want to send an event to some but not all members of a given distribution list, there's a way to do that, too. Consult Outlook's Help files.

-Rachel Brekhus

How do I create a web calendar using Outlook?

It's as simple as 1, 2, 3 ...

1. Create a "calendar" folder on your personal web share (or wherever you'd like the calendar to reside).

2. In your Outlook calendar, select "File," then "Save as Web Page."

3. Fill out the dialogue box, including the location and file name (such as W:\SwindellsG\calendar\default.html), and click "Save."

That's it. However, remember: If you don't use the privacy feature in Outlook, then the world will know all your business. See my calendar here: http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/swindellsg/calendar/.

-Geoff

Decrease eye strain by adjusting the "Refresh Rate" on your monitor

Monitors with low refresh rates flicker. It is subtle but it will give you eye strain. See this page for instructions on how to change your setting: http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2004/06/25/165762.aspx

--Marie

How to move fixed-width text statistical tables (NOT comma or tab delimited) into Excel

Many websites provide archived statistical tables in text format, like this:

http://www.census.gov/popest/archives/1990s/strh/srh90.txt .

Patrons generally prefer to have the data in Excel. A simply copy-and-paste operation won't work. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Notepad, which is located in your program list under Accessories.

2. Copy the part of the text file you want to move to Excel and paste it in Notepad.

3. In Notepad click File, Save as..., and change the type to "All files."

4. Name your Notepad file and save it somewhere on your hard drive where you can find it again.

5. Open Excel.

6. Click on the "Data" tab at the top and then "Import external data," then "Import data."

7. Find the file you saved in Notepad and click Open. That will bring up Excel's text import wizard.

8. Choose "Fixed width," then click "Next."

9. Your data will probably be showing up now in the preview screen with columns in all the right places. If they are not quite right, you can move the columns by clicking on the lines on the bottom of this preview screen.

10. Then click "Next," and "Finish."

11. Excel will ask where in the spreadsheet you want the data to be pasted, and it will default to Row 1, Column A. You'll probably be working with a blank spreadsheet, so pasting it there will be fine. Say OK.

12. Voila!

--Marie